ERLING HAALAND named the seven strikers he thinks are better than him – but would back himself in a crunch tie.
The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, burst on to the European stage last year with his performances for Red Bull Salzburg.
Erling Haaland could only think of seven strikers in world football better than him right now
Scoring goals for fun, Haaland made his transfer to Borussia Dortmund in the winter transfer window where he continued his hot streak with 19 goals in his first 22 appearances.
And in an interview with VG, the Norwegian sensation could only think of seven centre-forwards in world football currently better than him – and it is some list.
The seven is made up of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and last season’s 55-goal hero Robert Lewandowski from rivals Bayern Munich.
All of the remaining five strikers all ply their trade in the Premier League including Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as Tottenham hero Harry Kane.
Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool and Chelsea new boy Timo Werner – who arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer – complete the elite group.
But despite the hundreds of goals between the seven, Haaland emphasised he had the self-confidence to choose himself to lead the line in a huge match.
There are, however, a few of the biggest No9 names left out.
Haaland omitted the likes of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema or Romelu Lukaku.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of five Premier League strikers to get on the listCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Haaland rates Harry Kane among the very best No9s in world footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
There was no space for Kylian Mbappe despite the Frenchman’s heroics for club and country alreadyCredit: AFP or licensors
But the biggest surprise sees no Kylian Mbappe, arguably the most valuable player in the world, on the Norwegian’s list.
The pair, both transfer targets for Real Madrid, may not see eye to eye after Mbappe, Neymar and their Paris Saint-Germain team-mates mocked the Dortmund star’s celebration following their comeback win in the Champions League.
Haaland was also a target for compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before his Dortmund switch – but revealed the “good vibes” he got from the Bundesliga side convinced him to join Die Schwarzgelben.
He said: “There were of course a couple of clubs involved, but at the same time I did not know too much about this.
“But it was I who first mentioned Dortmund to my father (Alf Inge Haaland).
“We were sitting at home in Salzburg and watching a game Dortmund played, and I said to him, ‘Oi, look at that wall behind the goal. There had been something to play there.’
“I think he was half asleep on the sofa, but suddenly it became a reality. When I talked to them, I got a good vibe. I felt a little sold after that.
“What I liked so much about them was how direct they were. They said exactly how it was right for me. I liked that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
